End lamp accessory

ABSTRACT

An accessory for use with an electrically operated end lamp, with the accessory when so used acting as a heat sink, a protective housing for the lamp, and as a means for reflecting a beam from the lamp at a desired angle, as well as varying the optical characteristics of the reflected beam from those of the beam initially emitted by the lamp.

o i United States Patent 11 1 1111 3,733,79

Carley 1 1 May 15, 1973 l 5 END LAMP ACCESSORY [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS [75 1 Inventor: "1 Carley Roumg 3,527,974 9 1970 Cooper ..240 47 x 2,985,749 5/1961 Johnson 1 ..240 41.1 x 2,777,942 1/1957 Lester ..240/8.l6 X [73] Asslgnee' Los Angeles Mmlame Products 2,839,669 6/1958 Meiners et al. ..240 41.1 x

Inc., Torrance, Cahf.

Primary Examinen-Samuel S Matthews [22] Filed: Sept. 23, 1971 Assistant ExaminerRichard L. Moses 1 pp NO; 182,951 Atl0rney-W1l|1am C. Babcock [57] ABSTRACT l. ..2402R 2401R,240 4111, [52] U S C 220/92 An accessory for use with an electrically operated end 51 I t Cl Fzlv 33/00 lamp, with the accessory when so used acting as a heat 41 l Sink, a protective housing for the lamp and as a [58] Field of Search ..240/l R, 2 R, means for reflecting a beam from the p at a 240/441 52 desired angle, as well as varying the optical charac- 153 teristics of the reflected beam from those of the beam initially emitted by the lamp.

10 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures END LAMP ACCESSORY BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention End lamp accessory.

2. Description of the Prior Art In the past, sources of small beams or cones of light have been provided by either regular lens end lamps or side lens lamps. The physical characteristics of a cone or beam of light emitted from a regular lens end lamp is dependent on the lens contour, the shape of the filament, and the spacing relationship of the filament relative to the lens. A side lens lamp projects a beam of light normal to the elongate, transparent envelope that forms a part of the lamp structure, but the side lens lamp has the operational disadvantages that the lamp is both expensive and difficult to manufacture.

The primary purpose in devising the present invention is to supply an accessory that may be used with either a standard lens or non-lens end lamp to not only reflect a beam of light at a desired angle relative to the lamp, but the device also acts as a heat sink and protective housing for the lamp, as well as permitting the reflected beam of light to be varied as to its optical characteristics relative to the beam of light initially emitted from the lamp.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An accessory for use with either a standard lens or non-lens end lamp that is capable of being removably mounted on the elongate, transparent envelope that forms a part of the lamp. The accessory when so mounted on the envelope serves as a heat sink, a protective housing for the envelope, and as a means of reflecting a beam or cone of light from the end of the envelope at a desired angle relative thereto. In addition, the accessory may be utilized to change the configuration of the beam, as well as refocus the beam, and to vary the optical characteristics of the beam, particularly as to the infra-red and ultra violet content of the reflected beam.

A major object of the present invention is to supply a one-piece, elongate, metallic body having a longitudinal cavity therein in which an elongate, transparent envelope of a standard lens or non-lens end lamp is disposed, with the cavity being in communication with a light-reflecting surface that is preferably an integral part of the body, and the reflecting surface directing a beam of light from the lamp away from the housing and at a desired angle relative thereto.

Another object of the invention is to supply an accessory that may be mounted on a standard lens or nonlens end lamp to refocus the beam of light emitted from the lamp, as well as an accessory that may be used to modify the optical characteristics of the reflected beam, such as by varying the infra-red and ultra violet content thereof.

Another object of the invention is to provide an accessory that may be moved longitudinally relative to the transparent envelope that forms a part of the standard lens or non-lens end lamp, and by varying the longitudinal position of the accessory on the envelope modifying the configuration of the reflected beam, and the configuration of the reflected beam also being influenced by the shape of the reflecting surface on the accessory, such as when the surface is of an elliptical, parabolic or other desired curvature.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of the accessory mounted on an end lamp;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the accessory shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of the accessory shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the accessory shown in FIG. 1 taken on the line 44 thereof;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary, side elevational view of a modified form of the accessory in which the accessory has a curved, light-reflecting surface; and

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary, front elevational view of a modified form of the accessory, in which the lightreflecting surface has a coating extending thereover that modifies the optical characteristics of a beam of light reflected therefrom.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT A conventional, electrically operated end lamp A is shown in FIGS. 1 and 4 that includes an elongate, transparent envelope 10. The envelope 10, as illustrated, has a lens 12 formed as a part of a first end 14 thereof. Two insulated electrical conductors 16 are connected to two laterally spaced, elongate metalic supports 18 that extend into envelope 10 and have portions thereof sealed into a second end 20 of the envelope 10.

The supports 18 on the ends thereof most adjacent the lens 12 have a filament 22 extending transversely therebetween. The filament 22 becomes incandescent when subjected to an electric current that flows through conductor 16 and supports 18. The envelope 10, as may be seen in the drawing, is of a generally cylindrical configuration, with a major portion thereof having a circular, transverse cross section.

The accessory B, as may be seen in the drawings, is in the form of an elongate, cylindrical, metallic body 24 that includes first and second portions 26 and 28 that are connected by a body section 30. The adjacent ends of the portions 26 and 28 are separated by a transverse V-shaped space 32.

First body portion 26 has a longitudinal bore 26a defined therein, with the bore of such transverse cross section that a major portion of envelope 10 may be inserted therein. The lamp A is removably held in a desired longitudinal position in the bore 26a by conventional means 34, such as a body of polymerized resin or the like.

Body 24 is formed from a metallic material such as aluminum or the like that has good heat-conducting qualities, and the body acts both as a heat sink and as a protector for the lamp A disposed within the confines thereof. The end of the second body portion 28 most adjacent the bore 26a is defined by a polished lightreflecting surface 36. By anodizing the body 24 a thin, protective film (not shown) is formed on the exterior surface thereof that prevents the reflecting surface 36 from tarnishing.

The angle of the reflecting surface 36 relative to the longitudinal axis of the body 24 determines the angle at which a beam of light C, as shown in FIG. 2, emitted from the filament 22 to pass through the lens 14, will be reflected from the accessory B. In FIG. 2 it will be seen that the surface 36 is so situated that a diverging beam of refocused light C is reflected from the surface 36 in a direction substantially normal to the axis 38.

In the form of accessory B, shown in FIG. 5, the surface 36 is of curved configuration and a refocused converging beam of light C is reflected therefrom. Refocusing of a beam of light C to a reflected beam C is easily accomplished by forming the surface 36 into an elliptical, parabolic or other desired curved configuration.

Should it be desired to modify the physical characteristics of the reflected beam C, the reflecting surface 36, as shown in FIG. 6, may have a film 42 deposited thereon by evaporation or plating that selectively reflects or absorbs certain sections of the lights spectrum, such as the infra-red or the ultra violet. Materials for forming the film 42 are commercially available, and accordingly need not be enumerated in detail. The use and operation of the accessory B, as has been previously explained in detail, need not be repeated.

I claim:

1. In combination with an electrically operated lamp of the type that includes a sealed,elongate cylindrical, glass envelope in which a filament is so supported by a pair of spaced electrical conductors that a beam of light from said filament is directed outwardly through a first end of said envelope, with said conductors having insulated extensions thereof situated exteriorly of said envelope, a device for changing the direction of said beam, said device including:

a. an elongate body having first and second ends in which a transverse space is formed intermediate said ends, with the portion of said body nearest said first end that defines said space also defining a light-reflecting surface that is angularly positioned relative to the longitudinal axis of said body, said body having a longitudinal bore therein that extends from said second end to said space, with said bore of greater transverse cross section than that of said envelope and having said envelope at least partially disposed therein; and

b. means for holding said envelope at a desired longitudinal position in said bore, and with said beam from said lamp being reflected from said surface at an angle relative to said longitudinal axis of said 4 body.

2. A device as defined in claim 1 in which said body is formed from a metal having good heat-conducting characteristics, and said body having a sufficiently large external surface from which heat can be radiated that said body acts as a heat sink for said lamp.

3. A device as defined in claim 2 in which said metal is capable of taking a high polish, and said lightreflecting surface being a highly polished section of said body.

4. A device as defined in claim 3 in which said metal is capable of being anodized, and said surface being a highly polished anodized section to minimize deterioration thereof.

5. A device as defined in claim 1 which in addition includes:

c. a film of light reflecting material on said surface that reflects said beam with at least a portion of the infra-red light therein.

6. A device as defined in claim 1 which in addition includes:

c. a film of light-reflecting material on said surface that absorbes at least a portion of the infrared light in said beam as said beam is reflected therefrom.

7. A device as defined in claim 1 which in addition includes:

0. a film of light-reflecting material on said surface that reflects said beam of light therefrom with at least a portion of the ultra-violet light therein.

8. A device as defined in claim 1 which in addition includes:

c. a film of light-reflecting material on said surface that reflects said beam of light therefrom with at least a portion of the ultra-violet light removed therefrom.

9. A device as defined in claim 1 in which said surface is at least partially curved to focus said beam after the latter has been reflected.

10. A device as defined in claim 1 in which said envelope has a lens in said first end of said envelope to focus said beam of light, and said surface is at least partially curved to refocus said focused beam as the latter is reflected therefrom. 

1. In combination with an electrically operated lamp of the type that includes a sealed,elongate cylindrical, glass envelope in which a filament is so supported by a pair of spaced electrical conductors that a beam of light from said filament is directed outwardly through a first end of said envelope, with said conductors having insulated extensions thereof situated exteriorly of said envelope, a device for changing the direction of said beam, said device including: a. an elongate body having first and second ends in which a transverse space is formed intermediate said ends, with the portion of said body nearest said first end that defines said space also defining a light-reflecting surface that is angularly positioned relative to the longitudinal axis of said body, said body having a longitudinal bore therein that extends from said second end to said space, with said bore of greater transverse cross section than that of said envelope and having said envelope at least partially disposed therein; and b. means for holding said envelope at a desired longitudinal position in said bore, and with said beam from said lamp being reflected from said surface at an angle relative to said longitudinal axis of said body.
 2. A device as defined in claim 1 in which said body is formed from a metal having good heat-conducting characteristics, and said body having a sufficiently large external surface from which heat can be radiated that said body acts as a heat sink for said lamp.
 3. A device as defined in claim 2 in which said metal is capable of taking a high polish, and said light-reflecting surface being a highly polished section of said body.
 4. A device as defined in claim 3 in which said metal is capable of being anodized, and said surface being a highly polished anodized section to minimize deterioration thereof.
 5. A device as defined in claim 1 which in addition includes: c. a film of light reflecting material on said surface that reflects said beam with at least a portion of the infra-red light therein.
 6. A device as defined in claim 1 which in addition includes: c. a film of light-reflecting material on said surface that absorbes at least a portion of the infrared light in said beam as said beam is reflected therefrom.
 7. A device as defined in claim 1 which in addition includes: c. a film of light-reflecting material on said surface that reflects said beam of light therefrom with at least a portion of the ultra-violet light therein.
 8. A device as defined in claim 1 which in addition includes: c. a film of light-reflecting material on said surface that reflects said beam of light therefrom with at least a portion of the ultra-violet light removed therefrom.
 9. A device as defined in claim 1 in which said surface is at least partially curved to focus said beam after the latter has been reflected.
 10. A device as defined in claim 1 in which said envelope has a lens in said first end of said envelope to focus said beam of light, and said surface is at least partially curved to refocus said focused beam as the latter is reflected therefrom. 